Hidden dangers of the chute

[Justicemom]

I just found out CPE eliminated the chute effective immediately. That leaves only ASCA in the US and I don't follow that venue to know if they've decided to drop it or not.
QUOTE]

UKC still has the Chute and they have no plans to eliminate its use per communication from the sports rep. They have always been a bit different as an agility organization. I will be reevaluating if I want to continue with them. Birch needs about 8 points for his UACH so he will continue for now. Not sure about Celtic.

 

[k9kreationz]

I just found out CPE eliminated the chute effective immediately. That leaves only ASCA in the US and I don't follow that venue to know if they've decided to drop it or not.

In regards to ASCA, from what I can find, the chute has always been optional, but they're still using it. I also noticed some clubs stated they're using a safety chute. No clue how safe that is, but that's what they're using. I haven't found anything stating they're removing it anywhere.

It's been great reading everyone's thoughts on this. I haven't seen any injuries due to the chute (that I know of). The only injuries I have seen, while at a trial, is the dog getting scraped up from the tunnel part (rash, cuts, etc). Silaria, I wondered too how much is training vs just safety alone and not including the judge's choice of placement. But I have seen dogs get tangled up in the chute on a straight entry/exit. I never once thought about a dog getting it's snout caught up and then whipped backwards as I assumed dogs would put their heads down. I could see eye/head injuries from something as simple as a loose stiff string or badly sewn end. I mean, seriously, how many clubs actually check the chute part to see if there's anything wrong with it? I don't think we did. I think we checked the hard tunnel part more.

With that...I don't think a bottomless chute would work nor a flap hanging down. You run as fast as you can through a piece of plastic fabric on a doorway, with ends stitched (maybe not perfectly), and see if you come out unharmed every time. Now, do this at least 10x a week and see what happens after a year. I personally don't think anything can replace it as a "closed tunnel". If the actual chute fabric was the biggest issue, I can't imagine anything can safely be used as a "flap". I think we'd need a whole new obstacle.

Speaking of obstacle dangers. I feel as though the dogs who get hurt on DW's are usually jumping off the top or falling off. Rubberized equipment has helped a lot. Many more tend to not run their dogs on wet days (and they dry them down with towels on dewy mornings). The AF, dogs either go up angled and fly off from the top, or jump off too early. IMHO, all these are training issues and/or set-up running issues (possibly by the judge).

Thankfully things have changed a lot in the past 10 years. Let's hope this is just one more thing to make it safer. I too would love to see a new survey from Clean Run. Maybe we should all ask them to redo it so they know it's something they should do.

Sorry for the book, tryign to catch up.

 

[Jess041]

I too would love to see a new survey from Clean Run. Maybe we should all ask them to redo it so they know it's something they should do.

Alright before we go gang up on Clean Run.. I did get a response.

"Hi Jessica,

Thanks for writing. We are interested in redoing the study, but so far the doctor that assisted us hasn’t had time. But we will keep trying.

Monica Percival"

 

[k9kreationz]

Alright before we go gang up on Clean Run.. I did get a response.

"Hi Jessica,

Thanks for writing. We are interested in redoing the study, but so far the doctor that assisted us hasn’t had time. But we will keep trying.

Monica Percival"

Haha! That's cool though that they are interested in redoing the study.

Thanks for following up.

 

[Calliesmom]

Alright before we go gang up on Clean Run.. I did get a response.

"Hi Jessica,

Thanks for writing. We are interested in redoing the study, but so far the doctor that assisted us hasn’t had time. But we will keep trying.

Monica Percival"

that's cool that you got a reply- hope that they can actually get it to happen.....

 

[ghggp]

this is just heartbreaking! I could NOT watch the whole thing!
I hope this obstacle is removed from competition!